Before landing in Detroit in 2000, Ben Wallace spent three seasons with the Wizards and one year in Orlando. In August of 2000 Big Ben and teammate Chucky Atkins were sent from the Magic to the Pistons, in exchange for future Hall of Famer Grant Hill. Wallace excelled in Detroit, earning the Defensive Player of the Year Award four times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) being named an All-Star from 2003-06. He finished in the top five in rebounds per game for six consecutive years, from 2001-06. In the Pistons championship season of 2003-04, Wallace contributed 12.4 rebounds per game and 3.2 blocks per game as the Pistons won their third NBA title. Ben spent nine seasons in the Motor City and was acknowledged by the franchise in 2016 when his #3 was raised to the rafters and retired.

Originally founded in Fort Wayne Indiana, the Pistons got their name from the original owners business which manufactured pistons. The franchise moved to Detroit in '57 and kept the Pistons name as it aligned with Detroit's automotive identity.